Two teams that despise each other will renew the bad blood when the Cincinnati Bengals travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2 of the NFL regular season. The pair met in the postseason a year ago and the game was marred by cheap hits and a lot of trash talking.
Bengals star linebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended three games for a hit on Antonio Brown and will sit this one out. Pittsburgh scratched out the victory in last year’s playoffs but Cincinnati has a healthy Andy Dalton this time around. The Steelers will likely be slight favorites but this could be an epic showdown between two of the best teams in the AFC.
This showdown in Week 2 of the regular season will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.
Odds Analysis
The Bengals rallied to knock off a solid Jets team in their opener, proving once again that they are a top-notch squad. While the Steelers are expected to be the favorites, this is the type of game that could go either way.
Pittsburgh could have a lot of games with high scoring totals, but the Bengals defense is good enough that it may not be stratospheric. The Bengals could be a good moneyline choice since they could result in a nice payout as expected underdogs since they will be competing in this one on the road.
Injury Report
Le’Veon Bell -- The Steelers’ star running back is suspended the first three games of the season, so his services will not be available. Pittsburgh will rely on backup DeAngelo Williams, who played well last season while filling in as the starter.
Burfict -- As mentioned, he will also be suspended. The Bengals have a stout defense and Burfict plays a big role in that as a menacing presence in the middle. Cincinnati is facing an elite offense and hopes to absence of one of their better defenders won’t affect them too badly.
Matchup to Watch
Steelers’ wideouts vs. Bengals secondary -- The Pittsburgh aerial attack has the capability to be one of the best in the NFL, led by Brown. The group took a blow when Martavis Bryant was suspended for the season, but Markus Wheaton and Sammie Coates are exciting receivers.
The Bengals have a stout defense and the secondary last season was solid. Cincinnati lost safety Reggie Nelson in free agency but returns cornerbacks Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick was well as rangy safety George Iloka. The task of slowing down Brown is a tough one, but if the group can keep him relatively in check and then lock down the other receivers, it will be a huge boost.
Free ATS Pick
The season is a long one, but this game could already give a clue as to how the AFC pecking order may stack up. Each side is missing a key player, but the vast majority of impact pieces will be available. The Steelers are the more popular pick, since they are stacked on the offensive side of the ball and have been a perennial playoff team.
While the Bengals don’t have that same cachet, they should not be counted out. Both sides of the ball are solid, and the return of Dalton has the team aiming for a Super Bowl at the end of the year.
The Steelers will be the popular choice, but don’t get swayed by the big names. Cincinnati is the value play, and could even pull off the road upset, which would pay off handsomely on the money line. If you are looking for a good upset pick in Week 2 of the regular season, the Bengals stealing a win in Pittsburgh is the call to make.
NFL Odds: Bengals 27, Steelers 24
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